Method and machine for shelling nuts



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METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed Jan. 18, 1936 19 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 11, 1939.

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' METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS F iled Jan. 18,1936 19 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 11, 1939.

F. B. ROMBERG ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed Jan. 18, 1936 19 Sheets-Sheet 8 April IL, 1939. F. B. ROMB ERG ET AL 2,154,412

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F. B. ROMBERG El AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SK iEI JLI NG NUTS Filed Jan. 18, 1935 19 Sheets-Sheet 1-1 April 11, 1939.

F'. B. ROMBERG .El' AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed Jan. 18, 1936 19 Sheets-Sheet l2 April 1939- F. B. ROMBERG ET AL 2,154,412

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April 1939- F. B. ROMBERG r AL 2,154,412

METHOD AND MACHINE .FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed Jan. 18, 1936 l9 Sheets-Sheet l8 April 11, 1939.

F. B. ROMBERG ET AL NETHOD'ANDMACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS .Filed Jan. 18, 1936 19 Sheets-SheetlQ Patented Apr. 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BIETHOD AND MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS Felix B. Bomber-g and Louis D. Bomber-g,

Austin, Tex. 1

Application January 18, 1938, Serial No. 59,766

72 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and machine for shelling nuts, and especially pecan nuts.

A general object of our invention is to provide a method and mechanism whereby nuts varying within a commercial class can in rapid succession be shelled (or cracked) so that'kernels are recoverable with little labor, mutilation or loss.

A more specific object is to divide the shell of a nut along a definite line or plurality of lines by making small penetrations which are preierably limited to the shell itself.

- Another object is to penetrate the shell of a nut to grip a specific shell portion, or specific shell portions, and to press against said shell portion, or each shell portion, to remove or disrupt it.

A further object is to sever and preferably remove cup-like ends of the shell and to push in the intermediate portion of the shell at circumferentially spaced locations defining arcua'te shell sections to crack it inwardly at these locations and force it to bulge and crack outwardly between these locations, and preferably to penetrate the shell where it is pushed in, thereby to confine each arcuate shell section and crack it independently.

Other objects are: to provide new and'useful means for segregating nuts; to provide'novel means for giving elongated nuts a straight upended position; to provide novel means for carrying nuts between shelling membersi to provide novel means for holding nuts for shelling members; to provide novel shelling means; and,

to provide novel driving means for shell forcing means.

Additional objects of our invention will appear in the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof preferred for pecan nuts, reierence being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of our nut shelling machine at the beginning 01' its shelling cycle.

Figure 2 is a vertical section along the nut trackof the machine, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

" 'fFig ure 3 is 'a. partly sectional and partly plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, with a portion of the hoppercut away.

ing-mechanism, taken on line 6-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but with the extractor in its lowest position and the I shaker in its highest position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical shaker.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view 01' the shaker. Figure 11 is a plan view of one of the spring leaves of the shaker.

Figure 12 is a side view of the spring leaf of 10 Figure 11.

Figure 18 is a horizontal section taken on line ,i3-l8 of Figure 1, showing the extracting pins in their open position and the mechanism for operating them. 5 Figure 14 is a fractional view of the structure 01 Figure 13, showing the extracting pins in the closed position.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the extracting pins and the shoe it carries. 20

Figure 16 is a diagram showing how the extracting pins grasp a large nut. Figure 17 is a diagram showing how the exsection of the 16 tracting pins close behind a small nut and exclude a second small nut.

Figure 18 is a horizontal section taken on line lB-l8 of Figure 1. showing the first cage and the mechanism for operating it.

Figure 19 is a vertical section of the first cage, taken on line i8-i8 oi. Figure 18. 30

Figure 20 is a side elevation of one of the bar units of the first cage.

Figure 21 is a horizontal section taken on line 2i-2l 01' Figure 1, showing the second cage and the mechanism for operating it.

Figure 22 is a vertical section of thesecond cage and the guard plate, taken on line 22-22 of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a horizontal section taken on line 23-23 Of Figure 1. v

Figure 24 is a horizontal section (with one corner upright omitted) taken substantially on line 24-24 of Figure 1, showing the top clamping pins in the open position and the mechanism for operating. them.

Figure 25 is a fractional view of the structure of Figure 24, showing the top clamping pins in the closed position.

Figure 26 is a vertical section taken on line 26-26 of Figure I3, particularly showing the bearing members of the rockers.

Figure 27 is a vertical section taken substantially along linen-21 of Figure 24, particularly showing the rockers oi the shelling mechanism.

' Figure 28 is a horizontal section taken sub- 

